# instantaneous

/ˌɪnstənˈtæniəs/ (US) · /ˌɪnstɑːntˈeɪniəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/instantaneous
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

happening or done immediately, without any delay. You use this to describe something that occurs in a split second.

For teachers: occurring or completed in an instant; characterized by immediate action or effect. Often used in technical or scientific contexts to describe processes with no perceptible duration.

## Examples

- The new messaging app provides instantaneous communication.
- The driver's reaction to the obstacle was instantaneous, preventing what could have been a serious accident.
- In the digital age, we have become accustomed to the almost instantaneous retrieval of information, which has fundamentally altered our expectations of service and response times.

## Pitfalls

- Not "an instantaneous of reaction" but "an instantaneous reaction" — Learners sometimes confuse the adjective 'instantaneous' with the noun 'instant' and try to use it with a prepositional phrase.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun; often non-gradable in technical contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.